This Sunday, September 18, from 10am to 3pm - six miles of San Jose streets will be temporarily closed to motorized traffic - it is called, Viva CalleSJ. The selected route runs from Japantown through Downtown, connecting us to Willow Glen and West San Carlos/Burbank. It is meant to bring communities together to walk, bike, scooter, run, and explore the city and its historic neighborhoods like never before. All along the route, there will be music and activities, essentially making it a 6-mile block party! (Vivacallesj.org)

In Japantown, the historic "Koinobori" (carp wind socks), a gift from San Jose's sister city of Okayama to the Nikkei Matsuri festival, will be flying. There will be music, live art, face painting, Cosplay, pop-ups, sidewalk sales, healthy and wellness resources, and of course, snow cones! SushiShark and Totoro will be on hand to welcome everyone.

Near Japantown's Farmer's Market, which will be open all day - a Viva Calle stage will feature yoga and martial arts demonstrations, and music and dance. Everything from island reggae to hip-hop, ballet to break-dancing will be featured, with more musical performances on the customized San Jose Jazz BoomBox stage. San Jose Taiko will also have a particularly "moving" performance, riding pedicabs from their downtown studio to Japantown!

Japantown will have vintage and custom bicycles on display, including a demonstration of the restoration of a 1960's Schwinn Stingray. There will be two bicycle decorating stations for folks to gussy up their rides. While others can learn to origami "Kabuto" (Samurai helmets) out of newspaper to wear as they stroll the streets of San Jose!

Viva CalleSJ is not a race - and there is no beginning or end. The flow of traffic goes both ways. You don't need a bike or drivers license to participate - you can walk it. And it's free! We feel fortunate to be a part of this, and hope you enjoy it, too.